Reds desperate for win over newly promoted side…
Liverpool take on Burnley on Boxing Day, and after the promising performance we delivered against Arsenal last time out – we’re unlikely to make too many changes.
Keeping with the promising 3-4-3 formation we’ve started to deploy, here’s the side we think Brendan Rodgers should select against the Turf Moor outfit…
GK) Simon Mignolet
Surely the Belgian stopper needs to be brought back into the side already? Granted, he’s not been up to scratch this term, but his understudy Brad Jones has been very, very poor in the three games he’s been used during Mignolet’s ‘indefinite’ dropping.
DRC) Kolo Toure
The Ivorian deserves to be starting every game right now, as he hasn’t put a foot wrong all season when called upon. He suits being part of a back-three too, and he’s shown a surprising ability to drive into midfield with the ball at his feet.
DC) Martin Skrtel
Skrtel’s head injury is not enough to keep him out of the starting lineup, as proven by his last minute equaliser versus Arsenal. He did well against the Gunners, and is performing better without Dejan Lovren alongside him, unfortunately.
DLC) Mamadou Sakho
Sakho’s fit at last, and should deserve a run of games in the first-team now. Like Toure to the right of Skrtel, the left centre-back role suits the powerful Frenchman perfectly. He provides steel, grit and aerial presence to the defence – and we trust him more with the ball at his feet than Lovren at this moment in time.
WBR) Jordan Henderson
With the 3-4-3, Henderson is used as a willing right wing-back. While it’s clearly not his best position, he does have the energy to provide endless work-rate up and down the flank, although he occasionally looks a little lost when hugging the touchline. Still, he’s the best option right now.
AML) Alberto Moreno
Another change we’d make is to bring Spanish wing-back Moreno in for Lazar Markovic. Both are young, but Moreno is naturally suited to the wing-back role, whereas away from home, Markovic could be a defensive liability – and he probably gave the ball away too often against Arsenal, too.
DMC) Lucas
Lucas’s impressive defensive contribution makes him a must-pick for us right now. Click here to see the statistics which prove why.
MC) Steven Gerrard
Gerrard’s not been at his best recently, and Emre Can is someone we think deserves a chance in the centre of the park. For such a must-win fixture however, we’re still sticking with the skipper.
AMRC) Adam Lallana
The front-three has to stay the same. With Lallana and Coutinho dovetailing Sterling in the ‘false-9’ role, we’ve looked as dangerous as we have all season. If they click, Burnley could be in trouble.
AMLC) Coutinho
The Brazilian playmaker deserves to be one the first names on the team-sheet right now. He was probably our best player against Arsenal, and in the 3-4-3 formation, he can drift into pockets of pace more freely than when used wide on the left.
FC) Raheem Sterling
Sterling isn’t a centre-forward long-term, but due to his mobility and movement, he’s the best option we have right now. Mario Balotelli is back available, and could be used from the bench.
